Knife Attack Alleged

OCEAN CITY — A Willards man was arrested on first-degree assault and other charged last weekend after allegedly slashing the hand of another man with a knife during an argument.

Around 4:50 a.m. last Friday, the Ocean City Police Department (OCPD) responded to the area of 26th Street for a reported assault with a knife. OCPD officers arrived on the scene and met with a victim, who had a large open cut on his right hand. The cut was about four inches long, about an inch wide and appeared to be deep, according to police reports. The victim had a large amount of blood coming from the cut with blood on his arms, legs and shirt.

The victim was foreign and didn’t speak English well, but was able to communicate with the officers about what had happened. The victim told police he had an argument with the suspect, later identified as Sean Michael Rosomer, 21. During the argument, Rosomer allegedly produced a black folding knife and swung it at the victim, slashing him in the hand.

Rosomer then allegedly tried to slash the victim again with the knife, but was unable to do so. The victim told police Rosomer then threatened to put cigarettes out in the victim’s eyes before fleeing the scene in a black BMW. Meanwhile, other OCPD officer stopped Rosomer in his black BMW in the area of Kingfish Drive and Philadelphia Ave.

During a search of Rosomer’s vehicle, a black, fixed-blade knife was found in a bag in the trunk, but it did not match the description of the knife provided by the victim, nor was there any blood on the weapon. However, officers noted dried blood on the side of Rosomer’s neck and he was taken into custody. A search of the area around the incident scene turned up a black folding knife with dried blood on it. Rosomer was charged with first- and second-degree assault, reckless endangerment and weapons charges.

Beer Bottle Assault

OCEAN CITY — A Berlin man was arrested on first-degree assault charges last week after allegedly hitting another man over the head with a bottle during an altercation at a north-end bar.

Around 2:30 a.m. last Thursday, an OCPD officer on patrol in the area of Jamestown Rd. was waved over by security personnel at the Greene Turtle. The doormen told the officer two males had been fighting when one struck the other in the head with a beer bottle. The doormen told the officer the suspect who hit the other man in the head with a bottle was attempting to leave the scene.

The suspect, later identified as Kevin McCarthy, 26, of Berlin, was located nearby and detained. McCarthy told police he was at the bar with friends when “some guy” punched him in the face. McCarthy told police “he hit me first, so I hit him with the bottle.” OCPD officers viewed the bar’s video surveillance system to get a better understanding of what had happened during the altercation.

The video revealed someone in McCarthy’s group had shoved someone in the victim’s group, but security intervened and broke up the altercation. Moments later, the video revealed McCarthy drinking from a beer bottle before inverting it in his hand and walking around with it as if it was a club.

The video also revealed the two individuals who had shoved each other in the original altercation now speaking with each other while the two groups surrounded them. At that point, one member of the victim’s group punched McCarthy in the face. McCarthy responded by striking the man in the head with the beer bottle, which shattered all over the bar.

Police interviewed the victim, who told officers he punched McCarthy when he saw him with the bottle and how he was holding it. The victim said he knew McCarthy was going to hit someone with the bottle by the way he was holding it and that he punched McCarthy in an effort to get the bottle away from him before any of his friends were struck.

The victim suffered lacerations, abrasions and bruising as a result of being struck by McCarthy with the bottle. McCarthy was charged with first- and second-degree assault and reckless endangerment.

Hit-and-Run Then Pot Arrest

OCEAN CITY — A Delmar man was arrested on marijuana possession and traffic charges last weekend after allegedly side-swiping a vehicle on Coastal Highway before being stopped a short time later and found with pot and paraphernalia.

Around 5 p.m. last Friday, a broadcast went out in reference to a hit-and-run incident in the area of 56th Street minutes earlier. The victim told police the suspect, later identified as Stayton Hastings, 58, of Delmar, was driving northbound on Coastal Highway in the area of 56th Street when he side-swiped the victim’s vehicle.

Hastings then made a U-turn and headed southbound on Coastal Highway. The victim followed and pulled up next to Hastings, blowing her vehicle’s horn and attempting to tell the suspect he had just hit her car. The victim told police Hastings was not paying attention and continued to drive aggressively in and out of traffic.

A short time later, an OCPD officer on patrol in the downtown area observed the suspect’s vehicle at a traffic light at North Division Street. According to police reports, Stayton’s vehicle was stationary and the suspect was blowing the vehicle’s horn for no apparent reason while all traffic was stopped. According to police reports, Hastings was throwing his arms in the air and dancing in the vehicle.

The officer told Hastings to put his vehicle in park, but the suspect told police he was not going to do that and asked why. Hastings then asked police to allow him to pull into a side street, but the request was denied. Police observed an open alcoholic beverage container in the center console, but Hastings attempted to put it under the passenger seat. When asked about the drink, Hasting allegedly told police that was the only one he had.

Also observed strewn throughout the vehicle was loose marijuana. A background check revealed Hastings was driving on a suspended or revoked license in both Maryland and Delaware. Hastings explained he was not allowed to drive because of an amputated leg. Hastings was arrested and charged with driving while suspended or revoked. A search revealed a baggie of marijuana on his person and an additional plastic tube of pot in the center console. Hastings’ allegedly told police the pot belonged to a friend and he knew it was his responsibility, but that it was legal.

Hastings was charged with hit-and-run and other traffic charges along with marijuana possession and driving on a suspended or revoked license.

Tattoo, Cell Phone Nab Robbers

OCEAN CITY — A unique tattoo and cell phone records allowed OCPD to locate suspects involved in an assault and robbery in the downtown area earlier this month.

Around 7:50 p.m. on Aug. 4, the OCPD responded to the area of the Inlet Lodge on the south end of the Boardwalk for a reported assault and robbery. The victim told police he had been assaulted by two male suspects who also stole his backpack containing around $150 and his wallet. The victim also told police one of the suspects had a distinctive tattoo on his forearm including the phrase “truly blessed,” along with a good description of the suspects’ clothing.

About five hours later, other OCPD officers detained a group of suspects drinking alcoholic beverages in the area of 6th Street. One of the suspects fled and was later apprehended. Another of the suspects had the distinctive “truly blessed” tattoo on his forearm and police began to connect the suspects to the robbery and assault five hours earlier.

That suspect, a 17-year-old juvenile from Dover, was arrested and a search of his cell phone revealed he had recently rented a room at the Ocean Lodge on 8th Street and paid for the room with a $100 bill. The victim had been robbed of a $100 bill. OCPD officers went to the 8th Street area and observed the suspect who had fled from them earlier sitting on the Ocean Lodge property with a bottle of alcohol next to him.

When asked for identification, the second suspect produced an ID belonging to the robbery victim. Both suspects were arrested and charged with robbery, second-degree assault and theft. The second suspect was also charged with presenting fraudulent identification to avoid prosecution.

Burglar Busted

BERLIN — A Willards man is being held on first-degree robbery and other charges after multiple law enforcement agencies were able to connect him to two break-ins in the Pocomoke area earlier this month.

On Aug. 1, Worcester County Sheriff’s deputies responded to a residence in Pocomoke for a reported burglary in progress. A resident had confronted a burglar still in the home. The burglar, later identified as James McKinley Brown, 48, of Willards, told the resident he been contacted by the homeowner to repair a water leak.

While Brown was still in the home, the victim was able to call the homeowner to verify if the suspect had been hired to repair a leak. While on the phone, the victim was able to make detailed mental notes about Brown’s appearance, including facial features, tattoos and other physical characteristics.

Later on the same day, county sheriff’s deputies responded to a different residence in the same area for a reported burglary during which entry was gained in the same way as the previous incident. During the second break-in, numerous musical instruments and tools were stolen from the residence. With descriptions and the similarity of the incidents, multiple law enforcement agencies, including the Worcester County Bureau of Investigations (WCBI), the Wicomico Bureau of Investigation (WBI) and the Delaware State Police, were able to connect Brown to the break-ins and several warrants were issued for his arrest.

Multiple search warrants were also issued and much of the stolen property was recovered and returned to the rightful owners. Brown was later arrested and charged with burglary and theft. He is currently being held in Delaware awaiting extradition to Worcester County.

Eight Years For OC Dealer

OCEAN CITY — An Ocean City woman arrested in April on drug distribution charges after a raid at her north-end residence pleaded guilty last week in Circuit Court to one count of distribution of cocaine and was sentenced to 16 years in jail, half of which was later suspended.

During the month of April, OCPD conducted a CDS distribution investigation on a suspect identified as Louella Mae Bratten, 28, of Ocean City. Around 5:30 a.m. on April 29, the OCPD Quick Response Team (QRT) executed a search and seizure warrant on Bratten’s home on 136th Street.

The QRT found Bratten asleep in a second-floor bedroom. During the search, police located a women’s purse allegedly belonging to Bratten, which contained six individually wrapped baggies containing suspected crack cocaine. Detectives also located a box containing empty plastic baggies on a TV stand in Bratten’s room.

Also found in the purse was a plastic baggie of suspected marijuana. Bratten was arrested and charged with possession and possession with intent to distribute crack cocaine and marijuana. Last week in Circuit Court, Bratten was sentenced to 16 years in jail with all but eight years suspended. She was also placed on probation for two years and fined $300.

Gas Spill In West OC

WEST OCEAN CITY — Local hazardous material teams last week responded to a petroleum spill totaling roughly 50 gallons at a West Ocean City convenience store.

The Worcester County Special Hazards Response Team last Saturday was dispatched to assist the Ocean City Fire Department with a large petroleum spill at the Royal Farms store on Route 50 in West Ocean City. The Ocean City Fire Department requested the spill response trailer and two hazmat technicians to assist with the roughly 50 gallon spill that had entered a storm drain system.

Crews remained on scene for about six hours mitigating the incident and were assisted by the Maryland Department of the Environment.

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